I just visited a link party with 781 thumbnails. I’ll be honest, I didn’t visit every single post that was there, how could I? I’d be there for days! Your visitors can’t either, so what makes them decide which posts they’ll click on? How do they determine which posts get graced with their presence?

People visit link parties for different reasons, whether it be that they are looking for a specific type of project, submitting their own post, or looking to network with other bloggers. There are other reasons people visit, like looking for new and upcoming blogs or gorgeous projects to feature on larger blogs. Whatever the reason they are there, you want to stand out and capture their attention in that massive sea of posts.

Here are 5 tips for maximizing your exposure in a link party.

#1 – Choosing the right photo

Let’s face it, the first thing a visitor of a link party sees are the thumbnail images. When there are hundreds to sift through, don’t make your potential visitor guess at what your post is about. They have to decide which handful they’ll visit, so help them by providing a clear, focused image that entices them to click.

Choose a photo of your completed project that is free of text and other special formatting, and be sure that your subject is obvious, bright and attractive. Remember, link parties provide a thumbnail image that can range anywhere from 50 – 150 pixels wide. That’s not a lot of room to be noticed, so make the most of it. If a visitor has to guess what that picture is supposed to be of, there’s a good chance they’ll move on and you’ll miss out on that visit.

#2 – Description of your thumbnail

First of all, don’t use your name or the name of your blog. If your post is a tutorial on how to make a sunburst mirror, don’t type in “Jan’s Beautiful Blog”. Use a descriptive and obvious title. Keep it short and sweet and to the point, while being concise and specific. In this example, “Sunburst Mirror Tutorial” or “Silverware Sunburst Mirror” will carry a lot more weight than the name of your blog will.

#3 – Use the season to your advantage

Take advantage of whatever holiday or season is coming up. Seasonal and holiday projects are huge. Sure your dresser makeover is fabulous too, but trying to compete with Christmas crafts can be difficult. If you really want to spread the word about your dresser, add a bowl of shiny ornaments or a miniature Christmas tree on top to style the photo. If visitors eyes are searching for seasonal projects, that simple element will help raw them in.

#4 – Don’t forget about your archives

It’s February and you’re busy at work, you haven’t had time to post anything new. Remember that Valentine’s project you did last year or the year before? Promote it! There’s no rule (be sure to check each link party’s rules to be safe) that says you can’t put an older post into a link party. This is a great way to get some clicks on a forgotten piece of content.

#5 – Being at the top of the link party

Most likely those posts at the top of the link party will get noticed the most. That doesn’t mean they’ll get the most clicks, though! Compelling content and good looking photos do the best. So the question is do you need to camp out on the blog hosting the party, continually refreshing to get your link added among the first? You can if you have time to do that. Keep in mind though, some bloggers schedule their link parties to post at different times each week, sometimes at midnight, sometimes 9 a.m. With this in mind, remember these tips in the order that they were presented.

Link parties are a great way to gain exposure for your blog. Keeping these simple tips in mind can help set your posts apart from the growing number of blog posts out there and increase your blog’s visibility.

Barbara, that’s great that you do that! I used to run a link party and after the first hour I would change it to random to give everyone a chance Unfortunately though most link party hosts don’t do that, so hopefully this article will help people maximize their opportunities to be seen